Casino deal ignores city’s problem gambling concerns

A councillor who is skeptical of expanded gambling in Ottawa believes the city’s health concerns over a new casino have been snubbed by the province’s gaming agency.

In 2013, city council recommended the new casino operator apply 10 measures to prevent problem gambling. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. confirmed this week that council’s recommendations aren’t part of its operating agreement with Hard Rock at the Rideau Carleton Raceway.

“We’re elected officials. We speak on the behalf of our community, and I think, in some ways, it was disrespectful,” Coun. Keith Egli said.

“I understand the motion was suggestive as opposed to directive because we don’t have the authority, but I think in good faith those concerns should have been taken into account.”

The Rideau Carleton Raceway and Hard Rock want to build a $320-million complex at the horse track, creating Hard Rock Casino Ottawa.

Hard Rock won the 20-year contract from the OLG to run the gambling operation at the raceway.

Hard Rock and the raceway are partnering to revamp the larger entertainment facility.

As OLG started looking for a new casino operator in Ottawa, council made several requests:

Don’t allow 24-hour access to the casino and close the facility at least six hours per day.

Restrict the number of electronic gaming machines, slow machine speed of play and prohibit features that promote false beliefs of the odds of winning.

Eliminate casino loyalty programs.

Prohibit automatic teller machines on the gambling floor.

Prohibit casino credit and holding accounts. Reduce the maximum bet size. Mandate a daily loss maximum. Implement strong casino selfexclusion programs, including a mandatory player card system.

Issue monthly individual patron statements, which include full membership medians and averages to compare against personal record of loss, frequency and duration of play.

Designate areas for alcohol purchase and don’t provide alcohol service on casino floors.

Egli was one of 17 councillors who voted to request those measures.

The gaming agency said it takes council’s recommendations seriously. The agency put the recommendations in a “data room” for review, the OLG said. But they didn’t end up in the contract.

“As for OLG, responsible gambling is a key component of our conduct and manage role with the service providers. This means OLG

We’re elected officials. We speak on the behalf of our community, and I think, in some ways, it was disrespectful.

will uphold the standards of our Responsible Gambling program through the service provider, including the self-exclusion programs,” OLG spokesman Tony Bitonti said in an email.

Hard Rock chairman Jim Allen this week vowed to work with the OLG and community groups on compulsive gambling programs.

It would be no surprise if Hard Rock asks council to allow more gambling seats at the casino in future years, since the city currently restricts gaming on the property to 1,250 slot machines and 21 tables.

Egli said he won’t support expanded gambling, “more so now because they had an opportunity to address those (health) concerns and haven’t done that.”